Get on the College Track: Some helpful ideas for understanding the college process

1. Get on the College Track: Some helpful ideas for understanding the college process College Night for HTLA Juniors and their Parents The Class of 2016

2. Welcome and Introductions Karyn Koven College Counselor 818-609-2681 Dr.koven@ht-la.org Nikki Bender Academic Counselor 818-609-2682 Ms.bender@ht-la.org Volunteer College Counseling Assistants: Margo Cohen – margo.cohen@ht-la.org Noreen Bagley – ms.bagley@ht-la.org Evelyn Alexander - evelyn@magellancounseling.com Joan Weiss – udbny@aol.com

3. The parent role in the process: What can you do? Talk about college Frequently check on academic progress (PowerSchool) Encourage exploration of colleges and majors (Naviance/Family Connection) Give them responsibility in the process after all… they are the ones going to college!

4. HTLA prepares students to apply to a four-year college/university: • A-G (California) Eligibility • No grades below a “C” – all four-year colleges do not consider “Ds” or “Fs” passing. • UC and CSU Eligibility indexes • We want every HTLA student to be eligible to apply.

5. What are colleges looking for? • Grades in college preparatory courses – best indicator! • Test Scores (SAT or ACT, subject tests) • Grades in all courses (electives too!) • “class rank” – compares you to your peers at your school • Personal Essay – writing sample • Extracurricular activities - (in school and out of school) clubs, sports, service, summer programs, college courses, etc. • Demonstrated interest

6. What else do colleges look at? • Counselor letter of recommendation • Teacher letters of recommendation (usually two teachers) • The school you come from (HighTech LA - school profile) Evaluation in the context of what is available to you at your high school. • State of residence • Alumni relations – did a grandparent, parent or sibling attend the college? Also, interviews are sometimes available from local alumni.

7. How does HTLA help Prepare you for the college application process?

8. Small Group Meetings • Before Winter Break (December 2014) • Packets Given Out • “Homework Assigned” this is an important assignment!!! • Let me get to know you. Come in and let me know when you have done something or want to share something great… • January - When the assignment is turned in we meet in small groups again.

9. Individual Meetings • Begin in late February • Scheduled throughout the semester • Families are invited. • Usually during X-block or elective course (afternoon). • Discuss: testing plan, GPA, eligibility, college major, college list, fee waivers. STUDENT SPECIFIC individualized information and guidance.

10. University of California: UC Los Angeles UC Berkeley UC Davis UC Riverside UC Santa Cruz UC Santa Barbara UC Merced UC San Diego UC Irvine *All UC Campuses California State Univ. Northridge Los Angeles Fresno Long Beach Humboldt State Channel Islands San Marcos Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Cal Poly Pomona Monterey Bay San Diego State U. Etc….. We know what we are doing.

11. New York University Brigham Young U. Barnard College Smith College Carnegie Mellon University Grinnell College Mills College Oregon State U. Otis College of Art Parsons The New School for Design Purdue University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Santa Clara University Johns Hopkins University University of Arizona Carnegie Mellon University Cornell University Chapman University Gonzaga University See our school profile for full list. Pepperdine University George Washington Chapman University Kalamazoo College Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Sci-Arc Colby College Claremont McKenna College USC U. Wisconsin- Madison American University Woodbury University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Florida Institute of Technology Boston University Emerson College Drexel University More…

12. Private/Independent Colleges • Usually take students with 3.0 or above (in general) • SAT or ACT • Personal Statements (student essays) • Letters of Recommendation • Student Resume • Interviews (sometimes) • CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA • Examples locally include: Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount University, USC, Occidental College, Whittier College, American Jewish University, Biola U., Cal Lutheran U., Mills College, U. San Diego, U. San Francisco, Mount Saint Mary’s College, etc. • Look at CTCL: Colleges that Change Lives

13. California Master Plan • “Three Tiers” – CA Systems of Higher Education: • The University of California (UC) • 3.0 or higher GPA (much higher often) • SAT or ACT • Personal Statement • The California State University (CSU) • 2.0 or hither GPA (much higher often) • SAT or ACT • Community Colleges • All students with a high school diploma are eligible to attend a community college.

14. SelectivityAdmissions Statistics for Fall 2014

15. Are you competitive? • What is your GPA? • What is your PSAT then SAT or ACT score? • What are your interests? Passions? • You need to be thinking about looking at all options that may be open to you. Public, private, in state, out of state… • You still have about 35 weeks of junior year to step it up. • Remember you are gaining skills in high school that you will NEED for college.

16. ESTIMATED COSTS*Fees will increase with the 2012/2013 School Year

17. Students have to DO THE WORK • 9th grade – study skills, foundations • 10th and 11th grade • 2 GPAs: Cumulative and UC/CSU • Still time!!! Work at it now!!! Minimums: • 2.0 + SAT = CSU • 3.0 + SAT = UC • High School Diploma = any Community College with the possibility of transferring • =Postsecondary Possibilities for all

18. “Tools” to Help • Naviance – web-based software • College Center – books, files, resources • Internet tools • Browsing in bookstores • College Fairs • College Visits at HTLA and around the city. Find information on Naviance.

19. College trip this Fall … Nor Cal College Trip (see flyer for details) • November 19-21, 2014 • 6 colleges: UC Merced, CSU Stanislaus, UC Davis, University of San Francisco, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State. • Sacramento, San Francisco (Pier 39) • Deposit due by Wednesday, October 1. $100. • Total cost = $300 due by pre-departure meeting on November .

20. Spring Break Boston and New York College Tour • Boston College, Northeastern U., MIT, Babson or Olin, Emerson College, Yale U., NYU, Fordham U. Columbia U. • Guided sightseeing, Broadway show, Empire State Building, 9/11 memorial

21. PSAT – Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014 • Here at HTLA • 8:45 a.m. • $15 if you are not on free/reduced • Helps to prepare you for the SAT in the spring and also enters you into National Merit Scholarship Corporation competitions. • Students will been given practice test booklets.

22. SAT & SAT Subject Tests www.collegeboard.org to register • Two fee waivers are available for students on free/reduced lunch. • Why lunch forms are important… • UC apps - $70/each • CSU apps - $55/each • Sending test scores – $8/report

23. Students have the option to take the ACT with Writing www.act.org

24. I recommend all Juniors take: • SAT Reasoning Test on May 2 • SAT Subject Tests on June 6 (math2 & 1 other) • All students may take the tests again in the fall of their senior year. • If you would like, you can take the ACT on June 13, 2015.

25. Summer Plans • Do Something, participate, learn, be a part of…volunteer, work… check Naviance under “enrichment programs” for free programs/opportunities • Personal Statement “Boot Camp” – June and Aug. 2013 • Scholarships – look for them – start now • Write, read (a lot) • Some colleges accept applications to over the summer • Community College Classes (free) but hard to get into! • Visit colleges over the summer and in the fall. • Update your resume regularly.

26. Applications – Fall Senior Year • Many applications are available at the start of the school year • Common application: www.commonapp.org • UC & CSU – Oct. 1 – not before. Due November 30. Get those essays ready!!! • Private colleges require letters of recommendation from 2 teachers and counselor– no letters to public schools (in most cases) • Organization and time management are key.

27. Financial Aid • File Taxes as early as possible during the student’s senior year and every year after while they are in college. • FAFSAwww.fafsa.ed.gov Jan. 1 – March 2. • CAL Grant filed here at the school. Students are given the form and need to return it to Dr. Koven – GPA verification. • Scholarships – www.fastweb.com • AB540 – Undocumented Students – See Me for scholarship lists and resources. • Counseling/Financial Aid Packages arrive in the spring AFTER admissions decisions only.

28. Big Tips • Stick to Deadlines • Keep a Calendar • Plan Ahead • Keep Organized – folders, one place for all materials and correspondences, email folders to store important letters… go on Naviance - OFTEN

29. Naviance/Family ConnectionParents, if you haven’t logged into Naviance before, please let me know by calling my office or emailing me so I can help you!

30. Thank you! Questions? Please call 818-609-2681 or email dr.koven@ht-la.org